Can You Make Buttercream With A Hand Mixer?

I use Wilton's recipe for BC, with a few of my own stuff thrown in. However, I make everything in my KitchenAid. I'm traveling to NC in a few weeks because my sister is having a baby and I want to throw her a surprise baby shower and I'd like to make cupcakes for her. I'm bringing everything I need to pull this off, but there is no way possible to take my KA with me.

Can you make BC using a hand mixer? Will it come out the same? If that is a bad idea do you have any suggestions as to what I can do? I'd really love to make everything myself because she has never seen my stuff. Plus, my nieces are begging me to bake with them. lol

Can you make the icing at home and take it with you? I believe you can use a hand mixer to whip it up a bit before using it. While I'm sure you "can" make the icing with a hand mixer, I'd sure dread having to!

Yep as they said, it can be done but........ don't be surprised if you burn out the moter or strip a gear.When I was teaching Wilton I always used a hand mixer in class the 1st night just to show people it oculd be done Didn't take long before my (something like) 12 yr old mixer stripped a gearIn 8 yrs of teaching I went thru something like 4-5 mixers.

kakeladi, when I first started, I got a JCPenny brand stand mixer. It had plastic gears. I went thru 3 of them inside of a year. When I returned the last one (still under warranty) they said they would not honor the warranty anymore. I got a KA for Christmas that year.

I stripped out 2 motors before buying my KA and never looked back! I always advise people to go ahead and gulp and buy the big mixer instead of wasting money on the hand mixers. You won't be sorry.

However, your case is a little different. You've already got the big mixer but just need a batch or two. If you don't want to make it ahead and transport the icing you can certainly use a hand mixer. It will be a lot more labor intensive and time consuming than you're used to but should be fine for one or two uses.

FYI I've read that the KA handmixer is a lot stronger than pretty much any other brand out there (because it has a DC motor instead of AC). But I think that any brand would hold up for a batch or two, it's not like you'll be using it forever !

I just made a batch with my handheld Braun. My oh my! It was quite a nightmare. It kept getting stuck and stopping. I finally managed to make it and it turned out yummy but believe me...KA here I come!!

Yes , you can....... but I wouldn't make a habit out of it...... I blew up two hand models before hubby stepped in said said "NO MORE", and got me my KA for Christmas a couple of years ago....... ( that is a hint if you are trying to get a KA)

I have done cakes for a couple of years now...mainly just for friends and family. I have already gone through 3 hand mixers and my current one is on it's last leg!! lol I have 3-4 big cakes coming up within the next couple weeks. Told my DH I REALLY needed a KA so that is what I got for mother's day!!

I use an 8-yr old hand mixer (Sunbeam) for the Wilton's bc all the time (I don't have a stand mixer). I don't know about difference in quality but it tastes fine to me. I also add the sugar a bit at a time. Good luck.